Who earns a living from our hobby?

Hi guys, I wanted to know how many of us aquarium nuts actually earn a living from the hobby? I understand that possible ways to do this include owning a shop, or running a fish farm or some supply business, or else earning a salary as an employee of a business like this, perhaps working for a wholesaler or an international brand. If you are earning a living from the hobby, please give some details in the comments.

I just know that a lot of us would love to do what we love (aquariums) as a day job, but most people I've spoken to have said it's not really feasible. It'd be interesting to see how many people have made it work, and how they've done it.

 

at one point i covered electricity bill, food bill and made enough for a dinner or two a month for me and the misses from breeding fish
enjoyment was far greater than finical reward but was too much effort with a full time job and another part time hobby coaching at a gym

 

Was that selling your Jaguar cichlid fry ?

 

had up too 6 different cichlids breeding jags where 1 off

 

If you earn a living it's no longer a hobby, it's a job

 

One guy who went on pension told me don't make your hobby a job. You won't enjoy it anymore like a hobby and maybe will become a burdon later on

 

Well put!
lots of people have confused the two points you make, and ended up loosing lots of money

 

I agree with @Reedfish and @Jwh, I'd also lose the passion at a rate of knots if I had to do water changes late into the night after receiving a delayed shipment of dead fish... The one that was meant to cover the overdue L+W bill. Probably end up selling dyed glow-in-the-dark fish in a teacup as well

I think @RoGe is asking about the guys that succeeded and made a success of their business. People that managed to keep their passion alive and make a decent living out of it.

 

Indeed! If I think of all the jobs that exist in the fishkeeping hobby in South Africa, I wonder how many of those people are on forums like these, still with their passion. I'm interested in how they made it work (as it seems most people aren't able to make that jump), and how they've managed to not lose the passion while relying on the income.

 

Hey guys, I just wanna bump this poll to get some more votes on it. As it stands right now, of 32 votes, one person is successfully making a living from the hobby, and one person has tried and wouldn't recommend it..

 

Don't think the trend will change much....

 

im doing this as a hobby and a little side line "job". even tho this is the only thing im doing at the moment is fish. started 6months ago maybe a little longer.

i buy and resell fish to people, the "job".

the hobby that i am not trying to make a living of is i breed different types of fish, or lets say i would like to.

the buying and selling of fish covers all my costs and i still have left over to go do stuff with mates and the girl.
i have to add that i dont pay water and elec at this point of time, but i make enough to cover that as well.

i would never turn the breeding part into a business, as that is what i enjoy and like new challenges. i usually just sell the fish i cull. and i enjoy every second of it.

i never keep more than a pair of a certain type of fish in a tank (except if they need to be in groups )

currently have (got some new fish )

blood red jewel cichlids
betta fish
jaguar cichlids
oscars
midas cichlids

 

Thanks for some of the details @MadHatter!

 

I have sold some guppies LOL not paying ANY bills with that income...

 

When I start breeding the Discus again, it will be purely for the love of it.. IMHO I don't see anyone really making money out of it unless it's done on large scale and probably via internet sales..

 

Think this poll is a bit unclear, GUARANTEED the person making a living out of the "hobby" is a shop owner.

Purely as a breeder, the only way you'll be able to make a living of the hobby is if you have a huge facility that specialises in a few species. Meaning...you can pump out a million guppies a month...literally. Your markup will have to be small but you'll make your money purely on volume. If you can do that and are then able to supply wholesale and retailers you'll make a decent living as a "breeder".

 

Do lfs really make money?

 

I doubt it honestly.. I have had a few friends and acquaintances in various parts of the world and here that have had to close doors.. With the internet age upon us, it is just easier and more convenient to shop from home, and in many cases get guarantees which lfs just don't do.. You can also check the suppliers reputation and get feedback from previous clients.. Just a host of benefits that most lfs can't always provide..

 

Trying my luck with breeding now.

convicts still at it
Guppies growing
shrimp also breeding
still waiting for minnows

6 tanks later lol